Firefighters Hack Away At Illiteracy

Oakland Park firefighters have taken to fighting not only fires but also illiteracy in their community.

The Oakland Park Firefighters Benevolent Association is having its second annual Fired Up for Reading spaghetti dinner to benefit local elementary schools.

The dinner last year raised almost $2,000 for the reading program that brings firefighters to schools to read to children and serve as role models.

"Since this will be our second event, we anticipate surpassing last year's total," said Bob Martin, assistant fire marshal with the Oakland Park Fire-Rescue Department. "The proceeds from this event will go toward the purchase and delivery of new books for our local elementary schools and their students."

Oakland Park Elementary is one of the schools that will benefit.

"The city of Oakland Park Fire-Rescue Department exemplifies the community support Oakland Park Elementary receives. As a result of the 2004 spaghetti dinner, our school received many new, hardcover books, which our students are anxious to read," Assistant Principal Pam Govoni said.

Firefighters and paramedics will be serving a complete spaghetti dinner, and guests also will be treated to the Singin' Sal & Lisa's Variety Show.

The event will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the Collins Community Center, 3900 NE Third Ave. Tickets are $8. Call 954-497-4100.